Hello all,
Can someone tell me what was the reason for the end of body wars? Why did nt they upgrade like Star Tours?
It seems like a wate os space not using the pavillion for an attraction...
That answer was probably given in past threads, but i was unable to find it!
Without a sponsor Disney didn't want to pay for refurbishment or upkeep.
Basically, the short and sweet answer.
Metlife sponsored the pavilion since it opened from 1989 to 2001. Now, it being a simulator ride, and opening with the REST of the pavilion in 1989... I don't think it was just Disney that didn't upgrade and maintain the rides. Metlife apparently didn't care either. Cranium Command, Body Wars and all of the individual little activities throughout WoL were perfect and great for their times. After 12 years though, sponsor or not, they were outdated. Especially since a majority of the pavilion seemed to rely on films rather than AAs. (Making of me: film. Cranium Command: multiple screens with 2 AAs. Body Wars: simulator ride from 1989. Goofy About Health: A bunch of 1989 TV screens)
So sponsorship ended with met life. The pavilion continue to operate normally until 3 years later in 2004, which then began opening seasonally. The only reasoning I can add to this being, is the fact of considering this... Nothing new was ever.. EVER.. added to the pavilion since 1989. In fact, I'm pretty sure the only way you'd ever notice it's existence was on park maps, the monorail narration, and the Cranium Command sign outside. Trees began growing right in front of the pavilion's line of view. And the fact that there was nothing ever new added to the pavilion, it was basically abandoned. I opened for seasonal operations until 2007 during high-crowd seasons. And even then, the entire building on the inside looks basically abandoned. Nobody was there.
It was a great ride. It was EPCOT's very first thrill ride. The pavilion in which it was based in, was basically a very tiny theme park within a theme park with a bunch of interactive, edutainment exhibits. It housed one of Disney's best audio animatronic shows, with only one audio animatronic! But with nothing new ever added, it declined in popularity a lot. The trees that grow in front of it today, basically hide the pavilion out of sight from guests half of the time.
Only solution for Disney to do after years of seasonal openings? Close it. Nobody was visiting. They didn't want to spend the money to upgrade it. Basically the answer is: Disney being incredibly...... Stupid.
